The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-05
CHILDHOOD WAYS.
Qualities in Children that Amuse and
Interest Adults-Tricks Of In
fancy

If we contemplate childhood, we find
that many Of the qualities that most
charm us in 1t are delightful because
they are ephemeral; we should rccoil
at once II we supposed they were to
last Notice, for instance, the excess
sive activity of infancy-what may be
called its passion for business. 1t is
never still; il rushes from one occupa-
ton to another, finding nothing be-
yond the scope of its inclinations and
supposed powers. This hurry. this
running after work, is delightful in a
child. because it is passing stage
Of life. We take for granted that, as
thought develops, this tumult of activ-
ity will steady itself. When il remains,
when it lasts on, uncorrected in the
man, il is childishness. whatever it may
be taken for by himself and some other
people. When he rejoices IN the null
| tiplicity Of irons he has in the fire, we
may safely regard him as having never
laid aside the habits of his infancy, or
occupied himself as he ought in the
manly business of thinking whic h
should modify this trick Of action.
Again, in children we are quite con.
tent with mirth, without wit. No chill
dren are witty; for, in fact, wit is es-
sentially o mature productions; several
qualities of mind combine to produce it
which are in embryo in childhood. Yet
they find great deal to laugh about;
and we laugh with them without effort,
in glad sympathy, though we find them
very constant to their jokes, and one
lasts them long time But, unfor-
tunstsly, this sort OF POPULARITY, with q
good many men, outlives its proper
date. Far be it from us TO spoil sport;
but how many jokes, without vestige
Of fun IA them, arc instigated by the
ghost Of old infantine vivacity! The
Joker Jokes because he has always
ioked, and has never put away the
method of childhood from him, Per-
haps this is rs common a form of child
ishness as any. A great many men are
manly, sensible, influential in their
grave discourse, who founder into q
lower standing when they pretend to
be humorous; and this because their
Jokes are made under u different under
standing altogether from the jests of
real wit! All worn out Jokes are child
ish. Children can laugh at the same
thing many times over; if a man does
the same, it is for the reason that in
this particular, he is child still. So
TO utter II pleasantly, not because it is
new, but because it is old, because it
was said yesterday, shows a man TO be
at odds with his contemporaries; their
minds have grown, while his remains
stationary. Many more persons than
are atsall aware of it are tempted on
by habit to form of popularity in
which there is no conscious act of inven-
ton.
Another trick of infancy is Il love Of
showing its novelties and possessions.
We note this sort OF ofliciousness in
many children, No sooner do they
catch sight of visitor, new arrival
of any sort, than they hasten to enter
tain him by the production of their latest
treasures anything, indeed. The first
is: What have | TO showP" and all
sorts of incongruities follow on the in
diligence of this impulse. We admire
and discuss with good grace because
they are children, whose lead we must
follow If we care TO please them, and
also because we may say and do what
we please. We are not always critics.
But where the habit does not drop of,
where the fancy of these exhibitors TO
display their wares for our entertain
ment lasts into the maturity of life, the
case Is different Very few people in
deed have an omniverous curiosity;
and il happens more often than not that
what our friend PERSISTS in showing hits
some blot in onr requirements We
are ignorant where he is knowing; and
it requires an exceptional passion for
knowledge in general to throw ones
self into conchology, on genealogy, or
heraldry, or print or an old coin, or
a copy of verses. because our friend
has something to show about them.
The visitor expects to be led on to talk
and has his hopes and interests ready.
He finds that he has 10 abandon this
vantage ground, and To force his UNI
willing attention upon subjects alien to
his tastes. There are men with whom
you cannot be in a room three minutes
without their rushing off in quest OF
some book or other object. Conversa-
ton is impossible in their company.
They are intent, from mere habit, on
showing something, which means VIC
lently breaking the thread of discourse;
and il is an irrepressible inclination;
there is nothing to be done but to hui
NOR it, avenging ourselves for these
amiable outrages by pronouncing our
friend n child STILL
Every child desires above all things,
TO be the first to tell. To possess a
piece of news and to be before others
in the telling of it is the special craving